Most powerful Arab woman

UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi has been named the most powerful Arab woman and the 70th most powerful woman in the world by US-based Forbes magazine.

According to Forbes' list of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women, Shaikha Lubna is "a regional power in her own right" and constantly works to improve the UAE's global status and bolster the federal government's efforts to diversify the country's economy. Her persistent calls for a trade policy that is based on openness and competitiveness helped put the UAE on the road to economic recovery and development, the magazine said.

Shaikha Lubna is the first woman to hold a cabinet position in the UAE: She is former minister of economy and current Minister of Foreign Trade, having run a successful online auction company and worked as a manager for the agency charged with automating the UAE's federal government, Forbes explained.

Choosing Shaikha Lubna in the 70th place on the list of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women was a recognition of her fight to improve the rights of women in the region and humanitarian efforts for sustainable development and issues of children and the youth in other Arab and Muslim countries.

Shaikha Lubna expressed gladness at being recognised by Forbes. "This UAE global achievement would not have been possible without the ongoing support extended to women by the prudent leadership of the country, an established tradition started by the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and continued by the current leadership to bolster the role of UAE women in sustainable development as well as their international and regional status to become an example to follow," she commented.

Shaikha Lubna added: "This achievement demonstrates the support being given to UAE women by the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, as well as their keen interest in advancing women's role in social and economic development. This is a culmination of the efforts of Her Highness Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, to empower UAE women and develop their abilities to attain achievements in educational, development and governmental work."

She said: " I dedicate this great UAE achievement to the wise leadership of the UAE and to Her Highness Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation, who sets an example to follow, not only for UAE women, but also for all women in other Arab and Muslim countries."

Shaikha Lubna urged UAE women to be more diligent and creative in order to realise the aspirations of the wise leadership of the UAE to achieve further social and economic development.

Forbes said it chose the top women from four groups: politics, business, media and lifestyle and then ranked them in each group against other groups. Forbes said its "assessment is based less on traditional titles and roles and more on creative influence and entrepreneurship. These power women have built distinctive companies and brands and championed weighty causes, sometimes through unconventional means; in other cases they have broken through gender barriers."

US First lady Michelle Obama ranked Number 1 on Forbes magazine's 100 most powerful women in the world followed by Kraft CEO Irene Rosenfeld and talk-show host Oprah Winfrey, German Chancellor Angela Merkel (No 4). Lady Gaga broke into the top 10 at Number 7, while Beyonce Knowels took No 9 and Ellen DeGeneres No 10.

Shaikha Lubna came ahead of the other three Arab women who made to the Forbes list of the world's most influential women. They are Qatar's first lady Her Highness Shaikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned who ranked (No 74), Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan (No 76) and Kuwaiti businesswoman Maha Al Ghunaim, co -founder and chairwoman of Kuwaiti bank Global Investment House (No 94).

(Wam) - 10 October 2010,